Lostman’s River a Guidebook

Tackle Box

Five knots

Step through each one with a piece of line in your hands, then shuffle the stages and put them back in order. Diagrams are drafts; the written steps and the linked videos are the authority.

Improved clinch knot

The everyday hook-to-line knot. Matt's first knot.

Improved clinch knot, step 1: Pass the tag end through the hook eye.

Step 1 of 4 Pass the tag end through the hook eye.

  1. 1 Pass the tag end through the hook eye.
  2. 2 Make five turns around the standing line.
  3. 3 Bring the tag back through the small loop by the eye, then through the larger loop you just made.
  4. 4 Wet it and pull the turns snug against the eye.
Watch it tied →
Stage shuffle: put the steps back in order

      Non-slip loop knot

      Leaves an open loop at the lure eye so a Bagley Mullet or a spoon can swing freely.

      Non-slip loop knot, step 1: Tie a loose overhand knot in the line, pass the tag through the lure eye and back through the overhand.

      Step 1 of 4 Tie a loose overhand knot in the line, pass the tag through the lure eye and back through the overhand.

      1. 1 Tie a loose overhand knot in the line, pass the tag through the lure eye and back through the overhand.
      2. 2 Wrap the tag around the standing line; lighter line takes more wraps.
      3. 3 Bring the tag back through the overhand opening on the same side it left.
      4. 4 Wet it and tighten, keeping the loop open at the eye.
      Watch it tied →
      Stage shuffle: put the steps back in order

          Uni knot

          Line to swivel. Two of them back to back join line to leader.

          Uni knot, step 1: Pass the line through the swivel eye and double it back.

          Step 1 of 4 Pass the line through the swivel eye and double it back.

          1. 1 Pass the line through the swivel eye and double it back.
          2. 2 Form a loop and start wrapping the tag around both strands inside it.
          3. 3 Make five turns inside the loop.
          4. 4 Wet it, tighten the knot, then slide it down to the eye.
          Watch it tied →
          Stage shuffle: put the steps back in order

              Palomar knot

              The strongest simple hook knot. Good for the forged hooks on the boat poles.

              Palomar knot, step 1: Pass a doubled loop of line through the hook eye.

              Step 1 of 4 Pass a doubled loop of line through the hook eye.

              1. 1 Pass a doubled loop of line through the hook eye.
              2. 2 Tie a loose overhand knot with the doubled line.
              3. 3 Pass the whole hook through the loop.
              4. 4 Wet it and draw everything down evenly to the eye.
              Watch it tied →
              Stage shuffle: put the steps back in order

                  Albright knot

                  Main line to a heavier leader, the way Matt rigs the thirty-pound leader for the big snook.

                  Albright knot, step 1: Fold the heavy leader and pass the lighter line through the fold.

                  Step 1 of 4 Fold the heavy leader and pass the lighter line through the fold.

                  1. 1 Fold the heavy leader and pass the lighter line through the fold.
                  2. 2 Wrap the light line back over itself and both strands of the fold.
                  3. 3 After ten wraps, pass the tag back through the fold beside where it came in.
                  4. 4 Wet it and tighten the wraps carefully.
                  Watch it tied →
                  Stage shuffle: put the steps back in order

                      Before trusting a fish to any of these, have someone who ties them watch you. The Tackle Box has the full write-up.